DARYLE LAMBERT ON ANTIQUES - FINE ART - COLLECTIBLES

The Day – Daryle Lambert’s Antique and Collectible Blog – That You never want to see.

2009-11-22T00:20:00.003-06:00

God be With Us

My mother passed yesterday and I am not sure if I have accepted it as real yet. The woman that gave me birth is no longer there to except my phone calls or send me letters. Yes I know that she is in a better place and there is no longer pain but at this moment that seems to give me very little comfort.

I will be trying to keep the blogs going but over the next few days it might be very difficult. I am in Florida and won’t be in Chicago until Wednesday. It is very hard to think of money at times like this because it seems so worthless but I will share some thoughts with you..

I spent the day looking over so many items in places that call themselves antique shops but found that these places may have forgotten what an antique is. I was not even tempted to make one bid all day long so what does that tell you. Yes the personal contacts, garage and house sales seem to the last opportunity to find treasures for resale in these markets.

I have told you to keep your money until you are sure that what you’re buying is a real bargain and to day that is even more important than when I first wrote it. I didn’t talk to a single person that was selling anything and most of them were just trying to hang on. There is a time coming when the market will improve but it still isn’t there yet even if I want it to be. The only markets that seem to be stable are the upper end items and even then I would hope you have an idea where you will place the items before you purchase them.

You will be hearing from me and I ask for your prayers.

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Stars and Stripes – Daryle Lambert’s Antique and Collectibles Blog – Stand Up.

2009-11-21T09:52:00.002-06:00

Join Me

Today’s blog will come from my heart so I hope you will bear with me. It is time for us to stand up for our country and its flag. I still remember when I was in the first grade how proud I was when the teacher taught me how to say the Pledge of Allegiance and I put my hand over my heart. That feeling is still in me today no matter where that pledge is said--at a ballgame, a Memorial Day commemoration or a school event with my son, Joshua.

Why don’t we take this chance to show our love for the greatest country on earth by standing up for the United States of America? How can we do that, I am sure you’re asking? Here is my suggestion. Why don’t we start a national trend of collecting memorabilia that features our flag? What better way to show that we are united under the Red, White and Blue than to encourage others to find and display items featuring the flag.

Here is an idea. Why not buy and sell items from the military that show the flag, like patches, uniforms and military posters, Then show these to our children and tell them that anyone who serves this country is standing up for its freedom and those that oppose our soldiers are on the wrong side of the fence. We should also teach our children that being patriotic is an honor, not something to be ashamed of. On eBay today there are 8000 plus patriotic items being offered so there is definitely a market out there for us to tap into.

This seems to be a two for one opportunity for us, showing others how we feel about our country and making money at the same time.

I mentioned things from the military that the flag has been incorporated into but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to items featuring our flag. First, the flag has long been used in paintings and when it is, prices skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands for one artist. I don’t have my reference books with me but this same artist painted scenes of New York with the American flag hanging from buildings. The flag has also been featured in glass, pottery and porcelain.

I sold a pair of gloves made by the first Americans that had beaded American flags on them for $5000 and if you are able to find a vintage quilt with flags on it, the price could be $10,000 or more. As you are out in the field searching for treasure, keep a keen eye out for that old Red, White and Blue and it will be true to you. GOD BLESS AMERICA

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Paintings – Daryle Lambert’s Antique and Collectibles Blog - True or False.

2009-11-20T12:59:00.003-06:00

Blanchard

Today I received an email that no seller wishes to receive. It said that the buyer of my Blanchard painting was questioning if it was the real thing. I waited to see why he would question it because I am sure that it is an original painting by Blanchard. Here is his reasoning. The signature doesn’t look right to him and therefore he would like to return it for a refund. I assured him that he could send it back and if it was in the same condition as when he received it, the refund would be sent out immediately. However, this is troubling to me because buyers put so much stock in the signature.

People should realize that the signature on a painting is the easiest part of a painting to fake. Maybe the atist hurt his hand or just got in a hurt signing one of his pieces so the signature might look a little different than most that he signs. This doesn't mean he didn't paint it. Also, the signature should not carry nearly the weight as the painting itself when evaluating the authenticity of a piece. The brush strokes, colors, style and subject matter are for more important than the signature. If people buy paintings based solely on the signature, I promise that they will be stung at some time. In this case, I have two examples of Blanchard’s signature on paintings that match the one on my painting perfectly. First there is a $22,000 one on eBay and then there is a match in the European signature book. However, it isn’t for me to educate him if he already knows that it is a fake in his eyes and it is simply easier to just return his money.

I do have an interesting story for you, however, and here it is. There was a painting attributed to Blanchard at Brunk’s Auction on November the 14th lot 188, and it sold for $3200. That doesn’t sound very interesting does it, but here is the rest of the story. It seems that the painting was signed “Cortes”. How could that have happened? Well you see in the past, a Cortes has brought more money than a Blanchard and they painted in somewhat similar styles so to make more money someone just put Cortes’ signature on it.

This is a perfect example of what I am taking about and some sharp eyed dealer recognized that the painting was by Blanchard and not Cortes but still picked up a bargain. You see the signature didn’t mean much to the buyer because he knew the differences between the two painters. Yes the signature is important but it is only half the story.

You can find out more about the " Daryle Lambert Antique and Collectibles at www.31corp.com.

Airline Collectibles – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Up up and away.

2009-11-19T10:00:00.004-06:00

Now That's My Boy - Thanks to Flicker.com

Tomorrow I will be flying to Florida with my family to spend a couple of days with my daughter. Yes, mom is still in very poor shape but I have been told that it could be weeks before I will be called home. It seems that my life is being pulled in many directions but I know the Lord is in control so I have little to fear.

Thinking about my flight, I decided to research airline collectibles and boy, did I get a surprise. It seems that there is a large contingent of collectors for anything that was made by the different lines. I didn't realize how many airlines have come and gone or merged with one another. I found that if one of the lines ceased to exist, their items seem to be in the highest demand.

Here are just a few items that are collected and searched for by these avid collectors: china with the company's emblem, glasses, posters (you won't believe what some of them bring), uniforms for pilots and stewardess, caps and hat pins and advertising signs. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to airline collectibles but you will found it interesting compiling you own list. The items that you will discover are almost endless and anything mentioning an airline will be sought after by the collectors. Checking eBay, I found that these items have the best completion rate of almost any other group of collectibles that I have studied.

Looking at the advertising auctions, I found where posters have brought in thousands of dollars while models of the aircrafts sell in the high hundreds. Here are three rather interesting items that sold on eBay. First, a United Airlines sign featuring a Tiki brought $550 while a figurine of a Hula dancer had 24 bids and settled at $466.99. Not to be left out, Barbie had her own American Airlines stewardess outfit at $375. Keep an eye out for anything that is adorned with the symbol or logo of a present or past airline company.

I promise I will be tucking away several of the napkins, barf bags and about anything else I can get my hands on. It would really be neat if I could talk the airline out of one or two posters to hang on Joshua's wall because he is studying to be a pilot and already spends hours on the computer with his simulators. Josh is already saying he wants to take the flying courses offered at the high school he will be attending and I believe this may be our next father and son venture into collecting together.

I hope that in the future we will be able to receive comments on the blog but that doesn't seem to be happening at the present time. I would appreciate if you would send all comment to www.31corp.com until I can solve this problem.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today

It's That Time Again – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Sell Gold and Silver.

2009-11-18T12:37:00.003-06:00

Time to sell - Thanks to Flicker.com

The last time I made this call for my readers gold was over $1000 an ounce and silver went to $21. After my call, gold went to $800 and silver was as low as $10. I think these markets have peaked. I hope that over the last few months that you have purchased some silver and gold coins like I suggested in my blogs, but now is the time to take your profit. I know that I will be getting all the hate mail again from the gold bugs but that is okay.

A good friend of mine just took a few pieces of old and broken jewelry to a gold buyer and received over $550 and I guarantee you that I wouldn't have given her $100 for what she showed me. There is still the misconception that gold is a hedge against hard times but I believe that in today's markets where the true hedge is currencies, gold is just another commercial metal. Yes, India and China are buying gold but as we have seen in the past they can just as quickly turn to sellers. In both these countries, jewelry is very important to their culture and that is why they are purchasing gold, not as a hedge.

As I have told you in the past, these markets have almost become a sham. I find it hard to watch thirty minutes of television without someone hyping gold. Do people think they are doing that out of the goodness of their hearts? No, it is because they are making fortunes selling to the uninformed public what they are buying at much cheaper prices. When the market reverses and starts down, see if they are still around or better than that if they will buy the gold they're selling now back at what the public paid.

How does this pertain to us as antique dealers you may be asking? There still is money to be made on quick turns in gold and silver, just don't get stuck with it. You may find that you run into someone that has 40 or 50 silver dollars that you can buy. This may be a real opportunity for you. First, I would recommend that you buy them and research each one to see if they have any numerical value. Put the ones that do on the Seeauctions site and sell the rest as scrap. The same advice goes for gold coins and jewelry. I believe that today is an opportunity that won't last long and as you visit the garage and house sales, pick up all the gold and silver items you can and sell then just as quickly. The items that I spoke of earlier that the lady sold could have easily been purchased for under $100 at a sale. That would definitely met our goal of doubling our money.

Here is what I will leave you with. If at the present time you have gold and silver items, sell them. Also take this opportunity to buy more of these items but sell them the next day or the same day if possible. This love affair won't continue.

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The Lowly Spoon – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – But has it changed?

2009-11-17T07:10:00.003-06:00

Enameled Spoon - Thanks to Phoenixmasonry.org

Look what has come back into fashion, souvenir spoons. I can remember just a few years ago buying twenty or more souvenir spoons for a couple of dollars each but it looks like that day may be over. In fact I often bought plain sterling silver souvenir spoons for as little as 50 cents. The jump in the price of silver is having a dramatic effect on any object that is made from it.

The great thing about collecting spoons is that there are unlimited subjects that were incorporated into souvenir spoons. Almost every tourist attraction had spoons made with its images on them, plus each state had many different images of their state placed on spoons. I wouldn't know where to stop when listing these souvenirs but here is a short list: Indians, sports, people, buildings and cities.

Souvenir spoons were made of many different metals including gold and silver but usually what made them special was having jewels and enameling applied to them. This is where the big bucks come in. I am sure that there are spoons that sell for $10,000 or more but I am going to stick with the ones that you are most likely to find. But who knows, one of the others may find its way into your pile of goodies at the next garage or house sale you attend.

Here are just a few spoons that sold on eBay recently. Hopi Indian Snake Dance spoon with enameled Hopi Indian in the bowl and decorations on the back that sold for $2500, Union Station St. Louis sterling and enamel featuring a train $495, Iowa Wesleyan University sterling $425, and not to be outdone, several city spoons from Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Kansas City selling for $395.

Here is a tip. Don't try to pick the best one when there are many being offered. Try to buy them all and you will find that your average price will often go down substantially. Gold and silver are the preferred metals and if they are jeweled and enameled, the price heads north. There can be big money made here because there will often be a whole collection for sale. I have seen as many as 200 at one time. They don't all have to be huge winners but even one at $1000 can make for a great day. Let's just imagine buying 25 spoons for $50 and finding one of them is worth $1000. Wouldn't that make your day? The other 24 most likely would sell for $10 each, so let's figure $1000 plus $240 equals $1240 not bad for a $50 investment.

Keep your eyes open for souvenir spoons and remember unusual items almost always bring the most money.

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Blanchard – Fahnestock – Curran – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – What has changed.

2009-11-16T07:46:00.003-06:00

THESE LITTLE BUNNIES HAVE A NEW HOME - FAHNESTOCK

Do you recognize these artists' names? If not, then you haven't noticed the art that members of our club have been listing on eBay. Cecil and I have listed paintings by these artists many times on eBay without receiving a single bid but as I have been saying, things are changing. Over the last few months I have seen a huge increase in items sold at auctions and on the internet. What do you think the contributing factors are for this movement?

In my opinion, the first factor is that people realize that their money is being deflated and that true treasures are increasing in value. Second, the prices for items have decreased until there are real bargains to be had if you search for them. Third, due to the recession, there is a tremendous buildup of buying demand that is being filled today.

The paintings that I mentioned in the title have now been sold at double or triple what they have been offered for over the last year. This should be very encouraging to you and all those items that you have attempted to sell with no success should now be dug out of your inventories and put back on the auction block. I believe that a lot of the results you get will surprise you in a good way. This should also signal that it might be time to buy and that the bottom of this market might have been achieved.

I know that many of you who joined our club as this recession started have found it difficult to execute the “31 Step” plan but stay tuned because your opportunity is coming. In the future, my hope is that all members will become active members in the formulation of our game plan and that we will be sharing more success stories with each other. There isn't anything that encourages me more than hearing that a member has made made a wonderful buy and then reaped the rewards from its sale.

The three paintings in the title that six months ago would have been losers just produced over five thousand dollars in profit. Don't tell me things aren't changing. I don't want to hear that. My question is how much of this resurgence in buying is yours?

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today

eBay vs. Paypal – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Sunset for eBay.

2009-11-15T07:44:00.003-06:00

That Magic Word

Most of my readers know that many months ago I wrote that eBay must change its ways in order to survive. It is now doing the things I suggested but it may be too late, “It's all about the sellers, stupid.” This company had it all but its greed might have been its undoing. It is forecast that Paypal may become larger than eBay and I don't doubt it. Remember my words, “If eBay doesn't start pampering its sellers then the sellers will go to where they are pampered.” This is happening and as other venues open up and gain traction, eBay will continue to lose its advantage.

There are other changes in the wind and I predict that “The Antique Trader” will be the next casualty of this new and exciting market re-figuration. The printed word is too slow when everything you need to know is on your computer. Publications like the Trader are yesterday's news and seldom worth reading. People in the Antique and Collectible business are looking for information that will increase the money they are making and as the pages continue to shrink in the Trader, there is less and less information provided that is of benefit to its readers.

All this being said, it only encourages me that the future is in groups like ours, “The Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club.” Why do I say that? First, our Club isn't in competition with our readers and wishes only to help or partner with them. Second, there are no secrets that are kept from our readers or fees paid for the information and advice that readers receive. Third, we are building our own markets that will help in our success.

The last transformation in the re-alignment of the markets will be when auction houses start to compete with each other for business and the commission rates begin to adjust to lower levels so that you the seller will be able to receive more of the profit from items you sell. Don't be afraid to ask for the commission to be lowered if you sell items at auctions. To your surprise, you will find that the competition for inventory to sell by the auction houses will force the lowering without even a whimper. This business is near a turning point where it will be fun and profitable again for the ones who survived this downturn.

Now what do you suggest, I know you are asking. First, if you are still selling online take advantage of all the special offers from eBay and the other auctions because today there is one out there that is nearly giving their service away to get your business. Second, keep just one publication. I think the best is the “Maine Antique Digest”. With your savings, add to your library because this is where your knowledge can be advanced so that your money will be increased. Third, work with your Club to take advantage of the knowledge provided to you through our daily blog. WE WILL SURVIVE.

I hope that in the future we will be able to receive comments on the blog but that doesn't seem to be happening at the present time. I would appreciate if you would send all comment to www.31corp.com until I can solve this problem.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today

Thanks – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Thanks

2009-11-13T23:14:00.002-06:00

Good Night

I just returned home after consulting with the doctor's and the news isn't good. Mom only has a few days to live but 91 years isn't bad. I have had one hour sleep since Wed. at 4:00 AM so I will be going to bed soon.

I do have to share some news with you however and it is that my friend Owen is closing his Antique shop and I ask him why? “ There are only lookers” was his answer and believe me he has some fabulous things.

This is the trend today, fix locations are closing at an unbelievable rate but guess what, that is go news for us. There is still the same amount of items to buy so by so many shops and malls closing it will give us more opportunities to purchase the better items.

This was just a quick note but hopefully tomorrow I will be back up to speed.

God's Day – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Please pray for me.

2009-11-11T16:24:00.003-06:00

God is Good.

I was going to blog about the new toys that are making the Toy Hall of Fame this month. The first was going to be the Game Boy but that will have to wait until later. God's timing often changes things for us and this day is one of those times for me.

My mother in Kentucky had a massive stroke yesterday and I will be traveling there to be at her side. My daughter's husband, who is a doctor, said that it was best if the family came together so I will be driving most of the night. Please keep me in your prayers. If the Lord takes her home she will have earned her rest putting up with me for 68 years. Mom just celebrated her 91st birthday and was able to tend to herself right up to this day.

I will still have my cell phone and if you need my attention please call 847-867-7162. There may be times that I have the phone off but leave me a message and I will return your call when I can.

God Bless and Thanks for your prayers in advance.

Paintings – “Condition is Everything” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Be Careful.

2009-11-11T07:17:00.003-06:00

Maxwell Armfield - In Our Gallery

It is aways better to be safe than sorry when it comes to buying paintings. What you think might be worth $10,000 may prove to only be worth $2,000 due to its condition. I have seen too many paintings sitting in someone's closet after they were purchased because the price that was paid for them was way out of line.

What do I mean by condition? First, if it is unframed and the artist who painted it used vintage gold leaf frames, it will cost you an arm and a leg just to purchase the right frame for your painting. Here is a personal example of what I'm talking about. I have told the story about my best purchase and sale of a painting that brought over $100,000 many times but there is more to the story. When I went to Cincinnati to have my friends look at the painting, they said that it would never sell with the frame it was in, so I purchased a better one for $3,000 before taking the painting to New York to be sold. Upon arrival at Christie's, they examined the piece and informed me that before they would sell it there had to be a better frame than the one I had, so they put a $25,000 vintage frame on it and the buyer was told that they would have to buy the frame separately. The final bid was about $115,000 but the sad part about the transaction was they never returned my $3,000 frame. That was back in 2001 I believe but something like it just happened today.

I received an email asking if I was interested in a William Snyder painting and the person sent a picture along with the email. After looking it over quite thoroughly, I called the phone number. A gentleman answered and I introduced myself and asked for more information about the painting. In the photo, the painting looked to be about 24 X 36 inches but in reality it is 9 X 18. Also, it has no frame and needs a good cleaning plus some in painting. At this point it was time to ask the price that was being quoted for the painting. The gentleman informed me that people had told him the value should be at least $1,000 and he was hoping to get that. I then shared that to have the painting cleaned properly would cost $300 and a proper frame for it would likely be $250. Now I shared with him that in top notch condition it might bring $1000 in this market but maybe not. However, if it were sold, there would be commissions to be paid and the auction house might not even have an upcoming sale for several months.

So what did I do? I told him to check all his other avenues to sell it and then call me back and I would pay $250 for the painting. He may find someone to pay him more but I doubt that there is money to be made at a higher price. Again, I say it is better to be safe than sorry when you're buying something that needs work. If you don't put your pieces back in their original condition, then don't expect to get top prices.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today

Collector's Friend – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – It could be you.

2009-11-10T08:03:00.003-06:00

" BUYER ASSOCIATES "

I continually try to think of ways that our members of the “Daryle Lambert Antique and Collectibles Club can be more successful. It occurred to me that perhaps I have been oblivious to something that was right there in my face.

Have you heard the phrase "Buyer's Associate" and if so do you know what it means? My friend in Los Angles and his wife use a buyer's associate for almost everything they buy. It is much easier for them with their busy schedules to have someone else do their buying than to take the time to do it themselves. What a novel concept and my question is can that work for us?

In the past, I have talked about how our former customers should be our best future customers but how does that work? First, we need to keep lists of the items people buy from us and search for other similar items to present to them. That sounds something like being a "Buyer's Associate", doesn't it? Second, if your customers are real buyers then it is up to you to keep in communication with them to see what they are in the market for.

Here is an example of how this just worked for me. I have a customer that has a very large collection of Steuben glass for her table. She was looking through an auction catalog and saw a compote that matched her set and asked me my opinion. Going to the site and finding the piece listed for $500 - $800 it seemed reasonable to me so I contacted her and asked if she would like to be represented at the auction. Her answer was “most certainly” so I made the arrangement to bid by phone for the compote. I had just become a " buyer's associate" but would this be good for her?

The auction house agreed to call me when the compote's number came up and I was to be near the phone. At about 1:00 the phone rang and a gentleman asked if I was ready to bid and my answer was “Yes”, but I didn't want to bid until someone else bid first. The season for that strategy was so that the price would start as low as possible. On the phone I could hear "I have $325 do you want to bid?" "Yes, $350" but that didn't last long and the new bid was $375 and I bid $400. Guess what? That is where the bidding ended so I ask you, did I do a great job for her or what? You see the auction house knew who I was so there wasn't any funny business and I purchased the piece below the low estimate where if the customer had been bidding the price could have been several times what I purchased it for.

In cases like this I will assure you that your customers will be more than willing to pay your commission and thank you for your service. Here is the best part. Yes, you could have purchased it hoping that the customer would buy it from you and exposing your capital but by being the "Buyer's Associate" it required no money outlay by you. Just another way of skinning a cat. You cat lovers please don't be offended.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today

Gold That Glitters – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Cashing In.

2009-11-09T07:54:00.003-06:00

These are for You - Thanks to Jewelrytelevision.com

Here we are again with people all over the place saying that gold will go to $5000 an ounce. But you know my feelings about gold, that it is no longer a hedge against inflation, but just another commercial metal. In fact I believe it will soon top out near where it is at the present time, around $1100 per ounce. That old saying "If everyone is on the same side of the boat go to the other side", will prove right again as gold retraces its rise and declines back to $500 per ounce.

How can we make money with this huge increase in the price of gold you may be asking? The answer is that the best way to profit from this artificial rise in price is to find gold where others pass it by. I was talking to my wife's stepmother yesterday because she was visiting our home for Vickie's birthday. She asked if gold coins had any value today because she had several of them. Rather than just answer her question, I took her to my computer and brought up the completed sales of gold coins on eBay. You should have seen her eyes as I showed her where $20 gold pieces were bringing $3000 and more. Even the $5 and $1 coins were selling for $500 to $2500 each. I could see that adding machine in her head doing its job. Her next question was where can I sell them? It didn't take me long to inform her of what I thought the best way to dispose of these coins was and all she had to do was depend on me.

Have you asked anyone recently if they had coins that they might want to sell, because in your opinion this was the time to sell them? Probably not, but it still isn't too late to start, You may want to buy these pieces outright or charge a commission for your services selling them. Either way you will come out way on top. However, why stop there? Ask if they have any gold jewelry or ink pens that have gold included in their construction? With this gold market where it is, you need to make hay while the sun is shining. I heard that from my grandfather.

Most house sale conductors will know what they have in the way of gold and they usually overprice the items they are selling. You will have much better luck at garage sales and consignment shops. Never go out without your jeweler's loupe because you will never know when the opportunity to purchase these objects might occur. Please don't forget to ask the people you run into if they know of anyone who has gold items to sell and if they do, be sure to deal with them honestly. Our plan isn't to take advantage of anyone but to do a fair service for them. Since this price for gold has risen to such high levels, every snake has slithered out from beneath their rock and I am sure you have seen their ads for buying gold. There are even gold parties where they tell you about how wonderful the opportunity is to bring your gold to the party and what a fantastic price you will receive for it but you will be deceived.

Yes, this is a special time to own gold objects but I believe it will be short term so now is the time to strike while the iron is hot.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today

Warning- Warning - Fake Coins - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog- Not what it looks like.

2009-11-08T10:18:00.004-06:00

This Could Be Fake - Thanks to USGOLD.com

I have always said that if something becomes expensive there will be someone to make a fake or reproduction of it. Look at the reproductions of Galle and Daum Nancy glass or Roseville pottery. I have been offered fake Rolex watches so many times I can't count them, but this is something new.

The coins in your pocket you would think could never be faked, right? No, wrong. Today there are fake gold coins coming out of China that are even fooling some professionals. It is understandable with the price of gold over one thousand dollars an ounce that the gold coins would be faked, but they aren't stopping there. Even the rare pennies, nickels and dimes are being reproduced. So be on guard if you are offered a rare coin with limited mintage and take plenty of time before purchasing it.

Be sure to buy yourself a good coin guide that describes the rarities so that you can compare the coins that you are offered to the description in the guide. The one clue that might tip you off to the fakes is that some but not all the fakes have an orange peel texture to them. This should be a dead give away and you should run as fast as you can from the seller.

Fakes and reproductions are produced to play on the greed of the buyer, so that old saying “If it is too good to be true most of the time it is” comes to my mind in this situation. When I was young, coin collecting gave me many hours of pleasure, but now that only graded coins and extreme rarities bring any money besides the actual value of the metal that they are composed of, there are fewer and fewer collectors. This has caused the unscrupulous dealers to prey on the uneducated. So be forewarned. It isn't a nice world out there and people will take advantage of a person's lack of knowledge.

I am sure that as this information becomes more widely distributed, people will begin to fear making a mistake so the values of coins will go down just like they did with the other collectibles as they were reproduced. My advice to you, however, is that if you take precautions not to be fooled, this might be a great time to start looking for the rarities in the coin collecting field and they may just prove to be real treasures to you

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Toys for the Future – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Things will be different.

2009-11-07T11:04:00.003-06:00

How Many Times Around My Livingroom Did I Push This Train?

Thanks to Kids.lovetoknow.com

I was watching my son, Joshua, playing and realized that he has no interest in toys as I would define them. Ipods, computers and game boys seem to be his forms of entertainment. There seems to be a movement away from conventional toys. The technology age is upon us and I'm not sure I am ready for that.

However, with fewer toys coming to the market that have any collector value, the ones of past years will do nothing but go up in value. We all know that the Japanese tin windup toys have values that go through the roof, but recent toys, meaning ones from the 50's and 60's, soon may find their value not far behind those of the 30's and 40's. Remember that collectors search out items they remember from their youth and folks in their fifties can still remember when boys played with fire trucks and girls played with dolls. Here is how you decide if something is going to become a collectible. Was it a "have to have" when it was produced? For instance, anything to do with the Beatles was a "have to have" item when the Beatles were hot so now people are ready to shell out serious money to own these pieces again. What was hot when you were younger? This is what you should be searching for at house and garage sales. I remember when a Goofy figurine sold for over $1200. When new I am sure it could have been purchased for $2.00.

The great thing about buying toys for resale is that the market is always searching for examples of great toys. I am amazed when the results of toy auctions are listed in Antique Week and Antique Trader, with examples bringing up to $100,000 and many in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. Seldom will you purchase a toy that won't double your money when it is sold, and they are plentiful at every sale you attend.

There have been many toy guides produced and you should have more than one in your library. These can be purchased for just a few dollars on eBay, Amazon and Abebooks. If they are a year or two old, it really doesn't matter. Toys would be in my top ten list for achieving success and gaining knowledge in this field will pay you back in spades. Cast iron, hard rubber and tin toys are still the most expensive but plastic in on the rise when it comes to toys. Be a child again and have fun and make money with toys of your past.

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Cincinnati Art Galleries Sale – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Blog – Pottery to Glass.

2009-11-06T05:59:00.003-06:00

David Smallhouse's Octopus

This weekend will be a great test for the Pottery and Art Glass markets because Cincinnati Art Galleries has an outstanding auction Saturday and Sunday. I believe the art glass and pottery will shine in this auction, even if the selection of Rookwood pottery might be a little sub par for their auctions.

This sale should give us a clue as to what is happening in the world of Weller Pottery because there is one of the better collections of Weller that I have ever seen selling this weekend. Many of the pieces of Weller are signed by their better artists and should do very well. But Weller isn't the only pottery that is well represented in this auction. There is Roseville, Grueby and yes, absolutely fantastic pieces of Newcomb. Pottery collectors will be in attendance at this sale and I expect that prices will be on the rise. The number and quality of the Rookwood pieces might be on the average side but I will still be interested to see if the audience judges them as I do.

Cincinnati Art Galleries is fairly new to the Art Glass market but Karen has done a beautiful job of attracting top of the line art glass to their sales. There should be a strong performance for the glass with pieces of Tiffany, Steuben and other glasses exceeding their estimates. After this sale we should be able to judge with confidence whether these markets are really on the rise and I think the answer to that is "yes".

To my surprise, this is the first auction where I have seen David Smallhouse and Rick Satava represented with enough pieces to say whether or not there is a real secondary market for their items. If you look at the catalog, I believe that it will be love at first sight. In my case, I am only waiting for the right opportunity to add both these artists' works to my personal collection.

Talking to Warner today, he shared with me that his foreign buyer is back but the question is what can he sell him, because the collection is getting rather thin. As we talked, however, we both agreed that it might be time to seriously consider a rather large investment in Smallhouse and Satava inventory. Since very little of these artists' glass has sold at auction, you might want to keep your eyes open for bargains. I love the little octopus, frogs and jelly fish. The markets are heating up going into Christmas so stay on your toes for bargains.

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Marketplace and Consignments – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Bog – Buying and Selling

2009-11-05T08:41:00.002-06:00

New and Improved

This has been a terrific day and it started with Ondre, Bob and I meeting to discuss the new website. I believe that you as a member will be really satisfied with the results. With Ondre working on the content, and Bob taking care of all the technical problems, the “Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club” will be brought to a new level.

However, there is one issue that I need to discuss with the members and it is a matter of keeping the consignments on the gallery pages. The three of us tossed this problem around for a good part of the morning. Here's the problem. First, we have to contact the owner of the item to be sure it's still available. Next, the buyer has to commit to the purchase and send money which we have to hold. Then, the seller has to ship the piece without having been paid. If either party doesn't fulfill their obligation, the Club is caught in the middle. If a problem arises, the Club has to mediate it and there could be further problems. After much consideration, it was our conclusion that maybe it would be better to discontinue the consignments but keep the “Associate Program” active, because these sales can be completed with a “Buy it Now.” If you're not familiar with this program contact me and I will give you a complete description. By using the “Associates Program” you can buy items with the Club as your partner and at no expense to you.

If the consignment program is discontinued, the Club would still use every effort at its disposal to help members sell their items, including suggestions that would facilitate their sale. By keeping the “Wish List”, members will receive potential buyers and sellers names. This would take the Club out of the loop and your customers would be dealing directly with you. After filling out your “Wish List”, the customers could contact you to get instructions on how to complete the transaction between the two of you.

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Just a Little Red Sugar Shaker – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog - Who would have thought?

2009-11-04T07:39:00.003-06:00

Why not you ? - Thanks to Galsswareunlimited.com

I continue to encourage the reader of my blogs and tell them if they stay the course, their time will come. I can tell each of you personally that I am not aware of a single person who did their research and spent an appropriate amount of time searching for treasure and their efforts weren't rewarded. While others are struggling, friends of mine that have been in the antique business for years ask me, "What recession?" Yes, the prices have been reduced on what they sell maybe, but all they do is adjust their buying price.

You have heard me talk of Gene Evans and his special abilities to find artwork in the toughest of times. Whenever we talk he always says, "I just picked up this small painting for a reasonable amount and it sold for over $1000." I never hear him say, "You know I'm just not finding anything." You see Gene does the same thing whether it is a good market or bad. He spends his time studying and looking for treasures and his results are a testimony to his results. You can find Gene in our members only area under experts and I know he would be more than glad to share his success story with any member of the “Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club.”

In the near future, it is my desire to hook up members with each other so that each member will feel like they are on a team. This way all of us will know that together we will cross that finish line and all the hard work will have been well worth the effort.

The great thing about this business is that about the time you wonder why you are spending your time at it, something like this happens. Warner, my friend, called today and asked if I had seen the results of the Early's Auction and I had to admit I hadn't. “Well”, he said, “There must be someone who is very happy today because they listed a sugar shaker for sale. The estimate was $600 - $900 and it sold for over $15,000.” Can you imagine sitting in the audience expecting your sugar shaker to bring perhaps $1000 and see it hammered at $15,000, knowing that you paid far less than that for it? This story did come to me third handed but still the person that shared it with Warner is somone I would trust with my wallet if it had $10,000 in it. Someone's time had arrived just like it will for you if that is your desire.

Our new site is going to provide you with the tools of success but the effort will have to come from you and if there is silence on my phone and no emails in my box, I still hope that we can be friends but there is very little that I can do but wish you the best.

Stay Tuned.

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I've Been Holding Back – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – The wait is almost over.

2009-11-03T08:54:00.003-06:00

Our New Logo - Do You Like It?

This may have been the longest year of my life because the new home site for the “Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club” just didn't seem likely to become a reality. But that is all fixing to change and today I saw what our future site will look like. Bob Zehnder and his wife Karla have been working behind the scenes to give me all the services that I wanted our members to receive from the new site. I am confident that within two weeks the site will be functional but even then we will have a lot of work to do before I feel that our members are receiving everything that I have promised.

The marketplace will have more flexibility and the search engine will make items readily accessible to the viewer. The buyers will be able to purchase items owned by the Club immediately and those consigned will be fixed so that offers can be made and accepted through Paypal. The blog will be shown on the home page by clicking the blog button, giving us more space to present the rest of our story. Yes, the archives will work and hopefully I can soon announce some exciting changes that will show up in our archives. Your comments will be shown and the other readers and I will see them with the answers. No comment will go unanswered.

The programs such as the “Associates Program” and the “Million Dollar Race” will be a prominent part of our program again. When I post the new entries on the Club's inventory sheet, I believe that you will see that the Club is still in the race. The Members Section, which has been slighted, will become something that all members will be proud of and want to share with their friends. Our “Affiliate Program” will be listed and hopefully there will be a great number of people that will want to put our affiliate program on their sites. We will also be extending offers to others to put more of their affiliates on our site to help our members.

But this is the time that I need to call on all of our readers to answer how the new site could service them better. In what ways could our site make it more profitable for you to be a member of the Club? What would you like to be shown or offered that would enhance your experience as one of our members? These are just two questions that I would like for you to help with and I feel sure that you can supply many more. I am so excited that finally the hard work is going to pay off and you, the members, will be the recipients, thanks to your patience and faith in our Club. If you would like to discuss the coming changes, you may also call 847-784-8544 and I promise we can talk until all your questions are answered.

Thanks for sticking it out. Be assured that those treasures that I dreamed about so many years ago after reading Treasure Island will soon be ours.

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You Plus Two – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Success

2009-11-02T10:00:00.003-06:00

Gretchen and My grand daughter Erin

I have been searching for the answer for my success in the Antique and Fine Art business and I believe this weekend I found it. Some would say the reason for my success was acquired knowledge, dedication or love of what I do. But I may have found an even deeper answer and that is I have always surrounded myself with people that loved what I was doing as much as me. Have you noticed how often I mention Warner or Cecil in my blogs? These are only two of the favorite people that I have surrounded myself with over the last 45 years.

Yes, I understand you are asking how can this affect me. Here goes. Yesterday I had one of the most wonderful days that I have had in many years. You might say I was crazy driving over 12 hours in one day to spend just 6 hours at the event that I traveled to but I would do it all over again tomorrow. Guess what? I don't think that you would guess in a hundred years what made it so special.

You see, I attended the opening of the Patty Thum exhibit in Jeffersonville, Indiana to share with all that attended two paintings that I had entered in the exhibit. The pride of being part of the event of course brought me joy and talking to the many people that had come to see the 40 or more paintings by Patty Thum fit me to a tee. However, that wasn't what really made the day for me, because that was when I saw Gretchen, one of our members in the Daryle Lambert Antique and Collectible Club standing in the audience. She had driven all the way from Paducah, Kentucky to share this event with me.

We walked around together and talked to almost everyone in attendance and after the exhibit we went to a restaurant and talked for about one hour. This is what made my day, being with someone that had as much interest in these beautiful paintings as I did. Are you starting to get an idea of where I am going with this?

I thought to myself, the Club and blog probably have a couple of thousand followers and they stay in contact with me but I hear from so few of them about the joy they are receiving in this business. My question is why don't I hear from more of them? Here is what I came up with. Maybe they don't have people that they are sharing their experiences with in this business. So this is my suggestion to all of you. Find at least two people that will meet with you at least once a week to discuss their new finds or questions that they might have about a certain item or just to be there for you to bounce questions off of and after that, talk on the phone at least several times a week. I sincerely believe that my life would be rather boring if I weren't in contact with at least one of the people listed above on a daily basis. So I guess what I'm saying is thanks Gretchen, Warner and Cecil for my success.

Are you ready to be successful too?

I hope that in the future we will be able to receive comments on the blog but that doesn't seem to be happening at the present time. I would appreciate if you would send all comment to www.31corp.com until I can solve this problem.

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Patty Thum – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Vickie's Favorite Artist.

2009-10-31T23:46:00.003-05:00

Patty Thum - My Wife Vickie's Favorite

I am going to make this blog rather short because I will be leaving for Jeffersonville Indiana at 3:00 in the morning. There is an exhibit of Patty Thum's paintings and drawings at the Ohio River town's Howard Steamboat Museum starting tomorrow. I have two entries that will appear in the catalog and if I must say so myself they may be the two best in the exhibit.

I have only had the opportunity to purchase four of the Patty Thum's paintings and only missed one. I did sell one painting to a friend of mine that lives in Owensboro Kentucky and ever since I did it I have had second thoughts. It seems that most people that own Patty's paintings hold on to them however the Antique Trader stated that there were many more of her works to be found. If you hear of any for sell I am a buyer. To see more information on this exhibit you can go to the Antique Trader website for October the 16^th and there you will find the article on Patty Thum that covers several pages.

Why am I going to the exhibit you must be asking? I have told my readers that the best way to find what your looking for is to be around people that have knowledge about the items you seek or in some cases even own items that you are looking for. In this case the people attending this exhibit have interest in Kentucky artist like myself so I want to spread my name around, plus my paintings being in the catalog ot the exhibit can only increase my paintings value. Exposing the items that you wish to sell will always help you when that time comes for you to sell those items.

Here is Patty Thum's biography:

Patty Prather Thum was born October 1, 1853 in Louisville, Kentucky daughter of Dr. Mandeville and Louisiana (Miller) Thum. Patty received her first drawing lessons from her mother while still a child. She studied art at Vassar College under Henry VanIngen, the New York Art Students League with William Merritt Chase, Henry Mowbray, and Lemuel Wiles. Thum returned to Louisville in 1870 where she maintained a studio for 35 years. Primarily known as a painter of flowers and Kentucky landscapes, Thum acquired her love for nature from periodic visits to her grandparents' rural home. The subject of this painting, taken after a photograph by Oldham County's Kate Matthews, is Mary Johnston stepdaughter of author Annie Fellows Johnston. Thum also executed portraiture and magazine illustration, taught lessons, and was an art critic for Louisville Herald for many years. Thum received an honorable mention for book illustration at Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. She also exhibited at the 1898 New York State Fair and the St. Louis Exposition of 1904. Patty Thum died September 28, 1926 in Louisville at age 72.

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Which Paintings? – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – That's the Question.

2009-10-31T08:37:00.003-05:00

William You Where Right [ Charles Curran } - Thanks to Askart.com

I would like to talk about a wonderful opportunity that will happen to you in the future. That opportunity will be when there are more items offered to you than you might want to purchase at a particular time. What do you decide at that those moments and what is the correct decision?

The best way for me to address this problem with you is to share what is going on in my life right now. As you know I have been fortunate enough to move several paintings and other items, such as the sculptures that I sold, but I am still carrying a huge inventory. So how actively should I be pursuing new purchases? That is the question. Often this is answered by the amount of cash that you have on hand but let's assume that isn't a problem in this case.

Over the last several days, I have been presented the chance to buy some extra special paintings, but making the decision to purchase these when I am already choking on the inventory I have should take an extra measure of study before doing it. First let's examine the German painting that I have written about that didn't sell at auction and I believe that there is money to be made with it. So what did I do? First, I had to decide at what price I simply couldn't pass it by. Once this was established, I called the auction house to see if it was for sale after the auction and at what price. The price was just a little more than that magic number where I would throw all caution to the wind and buy it at that moment. But no, I made a counter offer at the price that I felt comfortable with. I have not been given the final answer yet but I do believe it will be positive when the auction house contacts the seller.

At the same time that I was considering the first purchase, I was offered two very large paintings by a New York artist for $22,500. Searching AskART, I found that the last painting by this artist sold at a very well known auction house for over $20,000. Making this story even better, the painting that sold was only 1/2 the size of the ones being offered to me. The subject matter is comparable and the quality is equal. Now you are in a quandary on what to do, right? Well again, what is that magic number where you will have to own them if the seller agrees? The less expensive purchase should have very little effect on your moving forward with your plan for the "Million Dollar Race" but the expensive paintings could put a hold on your progress for a while if you make a mistake. Again, you are at that moment of decision. What to do? If the larger purchase will be over 25% of the capital you're working with, it may be time to partner with the “Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Clubs” Associates program on the paintings or get an outside partner to go in with you on them.

I have been offered two other pieces but I believe that my message to you has been made clear. First, if you already have inventory, be sure that it is wise to expand it now. Second, never commit more than 25% of your working capital to any one item, but if you find that expensive treasure that you must have, spread the risk with others. The more of your working funds that you have committed, the cheaper your price should be for any offers you are making on additional pieces. If you follow these rules you will have a very long and successful career in Antiques and Fine Art.

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Helpful Hints – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Right time of year.

2009-10-30T08:38:00.003-05:00

Sometimes it's best to be the Turtle - Thanks to Aktkinsdietbulletinboard.com

I have tried to give my readers an advantage over most others in these very difficult markets. One way that I can accomplish this is to share with you how auctions that are going on in the next two months can be your friends. But you have told me that it is very difficult to make money buying at auctions unless there is an item that most dealers don't know the value of, right? That is partially right but there can be exceptions if you are patient.

Here is what I mean. First, preview the catalogs of the better auction houses and list the items that you would like to buy if the price were right. Knowing that at the low estimate it would still be out of our range, we wait until the auction is over to see if there are any items on our list that didn't sell. If there are, we take action. I have seen auction house reduce the price on a particular painting 75% in the after market, which means it didn't sell at the auction.

So after the auction is completed, get the results as quickly as possible to see if any of the items on your list didn't sell. Presto, if there are any, you call and ask if there is an after market price for those pieces. In fact I will be calling Shannon's auction tomorrow on their sale yesterday because there was a painting I was interested in.

I know that you are asking if this can work so I am going to give you a few of my own experiences. First the Harvey Joiner portrait that didn't sell at auction in September of 2007 was listed for $500-$800. I knew there was a possibility that if I could purchase it in the after market I could make money, and possibly a lot of money. Calling the auction house, I asked if the painting was still for sale and was told "yes for $240", if my memory is correct. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be the new owner of that painting. Later I attempted to sell it for $5000 but was unable to get that price so I had to settle for a mere $3500. I know what you're saying, “I feel so sorry for you.”

How about the large charger that I bought for $1000 after the auction when it didn't sell. The low estimate was $2500 but I wasn't willing to pay that so by waiting, I purchased it for what I thought was a fairer price for me. It soon found a new home for $5000 and I believe the buyer thought he was getting a bargain. I could continue to tell these stories but I think you get the idea. There are even some auctions that email out a list after their auctions with the list of unsold items and the new price. Guess what? I have called some of these houses and offered even less than their new price and been able to purchase at my offering price.

There is also another wrinkle to this way of buying and I demonstrated that to you a few weeks ago. Remember when I waited until the house sale was over and then purchased three sculptures and was given several other items by the owner free. Yes, these sculptures were sold in a matter of days and I was able to give the buyer three treasures that someday will be worth many many times more than they paid for them but I was also happy. Reading my book, you find out that there is no reason to get in a hurry when buying if you have the money. My most important rule is to spend my money wisely. If I wait and make a trade where I make $5000 to $10,000 on one deal, how many little $100 to $200 trades do I have to make to equal that one? Here is what might be a little difficult to understand until it happens to you a few times. Selling cheap items is more difficult than selling expensive ones. People with money just don't have to bargain as much as us common folks if they find something they desire .

Isn't this easy? I ask myself almost every day why everyone isn't doing it, but I am sure glad they're not.

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David Smallhouse and Richard Satava – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – The Future.

2009-10-29T08:05:00.002-05:00

David Smallhouse

I have been around art glass for over 45 years and yes, the old standards such as Tiffany, Steuben, Lalique, Daum Nancy and Galle will always be in fashion, but there may be some new sheriffs on the block. Names like Smallhouse and Satava may be just the ticket for the under 40 crowd. You may want to ask way this might be and in my opinion it could be because the young folks don't want what their parents had but something new for themselves.

The two up and comers in my eyes are David Smallhouse and Richard Satava. To get a real idea of their works you should go to the Cincinnati Art Gallery's site and look at the rather large assortment of their glass being sold on Sunday November the 7^th. Smallhouse has some of the most realistic animal pieces fearturing frogs and octopuses that you will ever find. I will guarantee you that I will eventually own one of Smallhouse's covered jars with the octopus.

Not to be outdone, Richard Satava produces large paperweights that contain jellyfish that look as if they had just been plucked out of the ocean. My favorite is the side swimmer and I also hope to own one of these someday.

Both of these gentlemen are masters of their craft and, along with the animal pieces, they both produce a wide range of vases that have colors that are almost indescribable. Their vivid reds, blues and greens have an iridescence that only a master could produce. If I were invited to a home that features the art glass from these two studios, I would be more than impressed. In fact I may have to be totally honest and say I prefer them to the old standards.

You may remember that I wrote a little about these artists in a past blog when Warner Smith, one of my best friends, started a new club. It can be found at www.glassclubs.com. You bet he would be more than glad to hear from you and even sell you a piece or two of his Smallhouse and Satava glass. Don't get caught in the mind set that if it isn't old there can't be much value there. Once you see works by these two gentlemen you will be as hooked as I am.

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Rookwood – Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog - Are you sure?

2009-10-28T08:48:00.003-05:00

Matthew Daly Rookwood Artist

I have continued my love of Rookwood pottery, Tiffany Glass and Galle Art Glass for many years. Most of that time has been spent accumulating knowledge of the products of companies like these. In my career as an antique and fine art dealer, I thought that time spent on quality and rarity would be the best use of my time.

To my surprise, however, there was much more to learn about these companies and their products than I ever imagined. Let's take Tiffany for example. I didn't know that this company made furniture and pottery as well as the items that everyone recognizes as Tiffany. Here is another loop in the circle. Louis Comfort Tiffany was also a painter and on occasion you may find a work by him. Always be on watch for the Tiffany name but also for his logo, LCT. The Tiffany company will always be known for the beautiful glass they produced but paintings, metal works and pottery will always bring a pretty penny if they bear the Tiffany name.

Would you be amazed to find out that Galle, one of my favorite companies, made furniture and pottery? Most people would not. This is the reason that I encourage my readers to examine anything they come across before discarding it as a worthless item.

There is another way that by following my suggestion you may increase your bank account. True artists may have worked for several companies during their careers. For example many of the Rookwood artists served tenures with as many as five different companies. You may run across a pottery vase that has a mark other than Rookwood on it but the name of one of Rookwood's artists. Many dealers wouldn't pick up on that but if you do it is like money in the bank. Here are just a few of the Rookwood artists that worked for other potteries: Artus Van Briggle, Matthew Daly, E.T. Hurley and Albert Valentien.

Now for the reason I am writing this blog. Rookwood, as far as I know, didn't produce anything other than pottery but their artists did. For example, many of the artists at Rookwood also painted and their paintings can bring in a fair amount of money. To see what I mean, there is a painting by one of the leading artists at Rookwood, Matthew Daly, in the Cincinnati sale and I will be bidding on it. You see, even though it is totally different from his pottery pieces, I am interested because it is a cowboy scene and would look great on my wall until someone made me an offer that I couldn't resist.

If you would like to see other pieces in this auction go to Cincinnati Art Galleries. Your knowledge will set you free.

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